Letters to the Editor

Friday, April 19, 1996

Seniors need to keep more of what they earn

Senior citizens are fortunate that Congress and President Clinton did not seek counsel with the editors of the Star-Bulletin when it came to limiting earnings of Social Security recipients. The Star-Bulletin editorial (April 1) tells us the nation's leaders played Santa Claus by passing a bill raising the yearly limits that senior citizens can earn, without loss of benefits, from $11,500 to $30,000 by 2002. The editorial claims this measure will only add to the sea of red ink and the system will go broke in a few decades.

With the federal poverty level for a couple at $962 a month, and the average Social Security recipient check around $900 a month, many seniors have to work to avoid the welfare rolls.

There is no free lunch for these people who must continue to work - federal and state taxes, as well as deductions for Social Security and Medicare, must be paid. Contrary to the editorial, Congressional Budget Office figures, appearing in a Washington D.C. paper, show that raising the income ceiling for annuitants will not cost the government money.

The program may not have been designed to work this way, but times have changed. Seniors are not looking for an election-year hand out, but do need the opportunity to work without being penalized for their efforts. Legislation to raise the earnings limit was overdue.

Jim Kyle


We need more journalists who are guided by faith

I would like to express my sincere admiration to Thomas Friedman, who wrote about Nathaniel Nash, the reporter who died in the plane crash with Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. The story said he "was a skeptic with a good soul" who is probably "sitting at God's elbow and taking detailed notes" (Insight, April 13).

Friedman expressed his admiration beautifully to the late Mr. Nash, his colleague in journalism, as a "gentle soul and deeply religious Christian."

In times like this, with all the many complicated problems in our country and all countries of the world, we need more journalists who have the character, dedication, sincerity and above all the faith and trust in the living God, just like Nash and Friedman.

Jose "Joe'' J. Lazo


OHA trustees questioned about their audacity

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees are furious at the state Senate's approval of the funding cuts from ceded lands. But where do the OHA trustees have the right to say that it will hurt Hawaiians?

The only hurt I see is the lining of their pockets at the expense of the people.

The whole organization should be dismantled and disposed of (which is probably not too far off) with all their in-house fighting, bickering, finger-pointing, name-calling, and the firing of a prominent figure in its organization.

What person in his or her right mind would want to follow or be led by such a corrupt corporation as this? Where was OHA when Kahale Smith died in a fire on Kauai? Where is OHA now for the Hawaiians at Makua?

The Hawaiian people should be conferring directly with the state instead of OHA, which is acting as the middle man. OHA is just another obstacle that they have to go over, under and around.

Robert P. Kanealii
Kaneohe


Palolo beating victim is mourned by friend

As a close friend and witness to the events that led to the beating death of Lynne Lindquist, I was especially pleased to read the Star-Bulletin's April 10 editorial, "Real villain is unnamed in fatal Palolo beating.'' After a week of hearing and seeing half-truths, innuendos, insinuations and misinformation, it was gratifying to read the truth.

All I hear are excuses and probabilities as to what happened to Lynne. It is refreshing for the Star-Bulletin to have the courage to say that personal responsibility is the only thing that would have prevented this tragedy from happening.

Lynne will be surely missed as she was a wonderful person, mother, daughter and friend. She did not deserve what happened to her. The "real villain" will deserve what she has coming.

Casey Cook


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